An all-American love story about two very new Americans. It’s 1975, and Saigon has fallen. He lost his wife. She lost her fiancé. But now in a new land, they just might find each other. Using his uniquely infectious style The New York Times calls “culturally savvy comedy”—and skipping back and forth from the dramatic evacuation of Saigon to the here and now—playwright Qui Nguyen gets up close and personal to tell the story that led to the creation of…Qui Nguyen.

Recommendation: High school and above: Adult language and situations. There is smoking of electronic cigarettes and water-based fog and haze effects.

Running Time: Approximately two hours, including one intermission.

Qui Nguyen, often credited as a pioneer of “geek theatre,” is a Brooklyn-based playwright, fight director and co-founder of the Obie Award-winning Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company, New York City. His plays include She Kills Monsters (The Flea, Buzz22/ Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Company One); Krunk Fu Battle Battle (East West Players); The Inexplicable Redemption of Agent G; Soul Samurai; Trial By Water (Ma-Yi Theater); Aliens Versus Cheerleaders (Keen Company); Six Rounds of Vengeance; Alice in Slasherland; Fight Girl Battle World; Men of Steel; and Living Dead in Denmark (Vampire Cowboys). He is a recipient of the 2015 New York Community Trust Helen Merrill Playwriting Award, 2014 Sundance Institute/Time Warner Fellowship, 2014 McCarter/Sallie B. Goodman Fellowship, 2013 American Alliance for Theatre and Education Distinguished Play Award (She Kills Monsters), and 2012 and 2009 GLAAD Media Award nominations for his plays She Kills Monsters and Soul Samurai. He is a resident artist at New Dramatists, a core member of The Playwrights’ Center and a member of Ensemble Studio Theatre and the Ma-Yi Writers Lab. For television, he writes for the PBS children’s cartoon, “Peg+Cat.” His company, Vampire Cowboys, holds the unique distinction of being the first and currently only professional theatre organization to be officially sponsored by New York Comic Con.

Jon Hoche (Asian Guy/American Guy/Nhan/Khue) is honored to be making his SCR debut with Vietgone. Recently, he was a performer/puppeteer in the North American tour of War Horse, as well as performing in the show’s Asian debut in Tokyo, Japan. He is the artistic associate of Vampire Cowboys Theater Company, where playwright Qui Nguyen serves as co-artistic director/co-founder and resident playwright. Hoche recently participated in the 2015 Jim Henson Company Diversity Puppetry Workshop. He also has worked with Ma-Yi Theater, Two River Theater Co., American Globe Theatre, 2G and Premiere Stages to name a few. Find out more at JonHoche.com.

Raymond Lee (Quang) appeared at SCR previously in the Pacific Playwrights Festival reading of Vietgone and in productions of Robin Hood and Four Clowns. Born in New York City and raised in Los Angeles, Lee is an actor, musician, physical performer and founding member of the Los Angeles-based, internationally touring clown troupe, Four Clowns. The company’s inaugural show, also titled Four Clowns, toured nationally and has taken them to notable venues such as La MaMa E.T.C. (New York City), SCR, Sacred Fools Theater Company, The Neo-Futurists (Chicago), Chopin Theatre (Chicago) and Gremlin Theatre (St. Paul, Minn.), among others. His television credits include “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “Hart of Dixie,” “Trophy Wife,” “Ben & Kate,” “Jessie” and “Zach Stone Is Gonna Be Famous.” His film credits include Farah Goes Bang (Tribeca Film Festival premiere and recipient of the Nora Ephron prize) and A Leading Man (Best Supporting Actor, Asians on Film Festival). He also has appeared in more than a dozen national commercials. He sends all kinds of love to his mom and wifey. theraymondlee.com

Samantha Quan (Asian Girl/American Girl/Thu/Huong/Translator/Flower Girl) recently appeared in SCR’s 2015 Pacific Playwrights Festival reading of Vietgone. Her theatre credits include workshops of Peerless, Hannahand the Dread Gazebo, Red Flamboyant and American Hwangap (Ojai Playwrights Conference), B.F.E. (Just Add Water Festival), Masha No Home (Ensemble Studio Theatre) and An Infinite Ache (The Globe Theatre). Her television credits include “NCIS,” “Blue,” “Subergatory” and “Castle.” Her film credits include 4 Wedding Planners, Sake Bomb and the upcoming independent film Good Grief. Quan is a graduate of the New York University graduate acting program.

Maureen Sebastian (​Tong) recently appeared in SCR’s 2015 Pacific Playwrights Festival reading of Vietgone. Her regional credits include Arabian Nights (Berkeley Repertory Theatre and Arena Stage), The Winter’s Tale, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Taming of the Shrew (The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey) and Thunder Above, Deeps Below (Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center and Second Generation). Her off-Broadway credits include Now Circa Then (Ars Nova), Lonely, I’m Not and Year Zero (Second Stage), Soul Samurai (Vampire Cowboys and Ma-Yi Theater Company) and Children of Vonderly (Ma-Yi Theatre Company). Her television credits include “Minority Report,” “Revolution,” “New Girl,” “Gossip Girl,” “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” “Person of Interest” and the feature films, Blumenthal and Thank You for Sharing. Follow her at maureensebastian.com.

Paco Tolson (Playwright/Giai/Bobby/Captain Chambers/Redneck Biker/Hippie Dude) is proud to return to SCR after appearing in Peter and the Starcatcher and presentations of Vietgone for the 2014 CrossRoads showcase and the 2015 Pacific Playwrights Festival. He is a graduate of Brown University and a member of Ensemble Studio Theatre. Tolson has developed new work with Ma-Yi Theater Company, Vampire Cowboys, Studio 42, The Public Theater, Ensemble Studio Theatre, The Play Company and Center Theatre Group among others. He trained at the Williamstown Theatre Festival and the Chautauqua Conservatory. Find out more at pacotolson.weebly.com. “Love forever to Kate and my amazing family.”

Creative Team

May Adrales (Director) is a freelance theatre director based in New York City, working primarily with new plays. Her work has been seen at LCT3, Signature Theatre, Portland Center Stage, The Cleveland Play House, Goodman Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre and Two River Theater. She is a Drama League Directing Fellow, Women’s Project Lab Director, SoHo Rep Writers/Directors Lab and New York Theatre Workshop Directing Fellow, and a recipient of the TCG New Generations grant, Denham Fellowship and Paul Green Directing Award. She proudly serves as an associate artist at Milwaukee Repertory Theatre. She is a former director of onsite programs at the Lark Play Development Center and artistic associate at The Public Theater. She earned her MFA at Yale School of Drama and has directed and taught at NYU, Bard College, Juilliard and Fordham University. She is currently on faculty at Yale School of Drama and Brown University. mayadrales.net

Timothy R. Mackabee (Scenic Design) is making his SCR design debut. His Broadway credits include The Elephant Man (starring Bradley Cooper), which he also designed for its West End run and Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth (directed by Spike Lee). He designed the off-Broadway productions of Heathers and Gigantic, as well as designs for Lincoln Center Theater, Manhattan Theatre Club, Atlantic Theater Company, The Public Theater, Vineyard Theatre, Cherry Lane Theatre, Ars Nova, Culture Project and P.S. 122. His regional theatre credits include work for Center Stage in Baltimore, The Cleveland Play House, Portland Center Stage, Dallas Theater Center, Syracuse Stage, Yale Repertory Theatre, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Studio Theatre, Virginia Stage Company, Paper Mill Playhouse, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Arden Theatre Company, Theater J, The Muny, Ford’s Theatre, Pittsburgh CLO, Denver Center Theatre, The Old Globe, Geva Theatre, Merrimack Repertory and ACT San Francisco. He has also designed the operas Paul’s Case and Tosca and for Doug Varone and Dancers and Cedar Lake Dance. His film and television credits include Amy Schumer Stand Up, “Gotham,” “Smash,” “The Today Show,” Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth (HBO) and Margot at the Wedding. He is a graduate of North Carolina School of the Arts and Yale School of Drama. timothymackabeedesign.com

Anthony Tran (Costume Design) is a costume designer for theatre, film, and television, working with a wide range of artists from “the pope of trash” John Waters to Disney Channel star Ross Lynch. His theatre credits include Triassic Parq (Chance Theater, Ovation nomination), Chess (East West Players) and Year Zero (The Colony Theatre). For television, he has designed costumes for Disney’s superhero series “Mighty Med” as well as their ’60s beach party musical movie Teen Beach 2, helmed by Flashdance/A Chorus Line choreographer Jeffrey Hornaday. In addition to his work in the costume departments of films such as Magic Mike and Insidious, his own film designs include Excision (Sundance Film Festival premiere), Bad Milo! (SXSW Film Festival premiere) and the upcoming feature Trash Fire. anthonytran.net

Jaymi Lee Smith (Lighting Design) is thrilled to be at SCR again after working on Peter and the Starcatcher, The Stinky Cheese Man, Top Dog/Underdog, Lucky Duck and Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business. She has been designing around the country for the last 16 years at theatres such as Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Dallas Theater Center, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, La Jolla Playhouse, Goodman Theatre, The Court Theatre, Pasadena Playhouse, Hartford Stage, Alliance Theatre, Getty Villa, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Milwaukee Repertory and Lookingglass Theatre Company. Her work has also been seen in China, Italy, Spain, Scotland and Ireland. Her awards have included the 2003 Michael Merritt/Michael Maggio Emerging Designer Award and a 2010 Joseph Jefferson Award. She is currently an associate professor of lighting design and associate head of design at UC Irvine. Her website is jaymismith.com.

Shane Rettig (Original Music/Sound Design) is making his SCR design debut. His New York credits include The Liquid Plain (Signature Theatre Company), Wiesenthal (Daryl Roth Theatre), The Urban Retreat, Manahatta, Much Ado About Nothing and Detroit ’67 (The Public Theater), Bad Jews (Roundabout Theatre Company), Intimacy, Clive, One Arm, Marie and Bruce and A Lie of the Mind (The New Group), She Kills Monsters (The Flea Theater), Six Rounds of Vengeance, The Inexplicable Redemption of Agent G and Alice in Slasherland (Vampire Cowboys), Wong Kids, Jesus in India, Sugar House and Microcrisis (Ma-Yi Theater Company), When January Feels Like Summer, Fast Company and Year of the Rooster (Ensemble Studio Theatre) and La Brea, Motel Cherry and Civilization (Clubbed Thumb). He has worked regionally at Arena Stage, Berkshire Theatre Festival, California Theatre Center, Center Stage, Dallas Theater Center, La Jolla Playhouse, Williamstown Theatre Festival and Yale Repertory. Rettig is the composer and co-lyricist of the musical War is F**cking Awesome, with playwright Qui Nguyen, developed at the 2013 Sundance Theatre Lab. His work has been nominated for Drama Desk and Lucille Lortel awards, and he was part of the United States sound design exhibition in the 2007 Prague Quadrennial.

Jared Mezzocchi (​Projection Design) is making his SCR design debut. He was awarded the 2012 Princess Grace Theater Fellowship as the first projections designer to receive the honor. He is a company member at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, most recently having designed Women Laughing Alone with Salad. New York City credits include Downtown Loop (3-Legged Dog); You Are Dead. You Are Here. (HERE Arts Center); and JET LAG 2011 (The Builders Association). Recent regional theatre includes The History of Invulnerability (Milwaukee Repertory), Breath and Imagination (Cleveland Play House), Stones in His Pockets (Center Stage) and Body of an American (The Wilma Theater). His D.C. credits include Yellowface (Theater J), Astroboy and the God of Comics (Studio Theatre) and BELL (National Geographic). Mezzocchi has also designed with Caden Manson’s Big Art Group (SOS, The People and The Sleep) at the Vienna Festival, touring much of Europe, Canada and nationally. He also designs commercially, having just created projections for Connect4Climate and Alcantara at Design Week in Milan, Italy, as well as in the atrium of the World Bank in Washington D.C. Mezzocchi currently teaches projection design at The University of Maryland.

Andy Knight (Dramaturg) is South Coast Repertory’s associate literary director and festival coordinator for the Pacific Playwrights Festival. At SCR, his dramaturgy credits include last season’s Venus in Fur and The Whipping Man, as well as the world premiere of Catherine Trieschmann’s Theatre for Young Audiences play, Oz 2.5. In addition to working as a production dramaturg, he assists on SCR’s CrossRoads Initiative, a community-based program that brings playwrights into the Orange County community on residencies as a way to inspire their new plays. Before coming to SCR, Knight worked at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre.

Kathryn Davies (Stage Manager) previously stage-managed OZ 2.5, The Whipping Man, Tartuffe, Reunion, Trudy and Max in Love, Ivy+Bean: the Musical, The Motherf**ker with the Hat, How to Write a New Book for the Bible, Sight Unseen, Topdog/Underdog, Sideways Stories from Wayside School, In the Next Room or the vibrator play, Doctor Cerberus, Ordinary Days, Our Mother’s Brief Affair, The Injured Party, The Brand New Kid and Imagine at SCR. Her favorite credits include Dividing the Estate at Dallas Theater Center, La Bohème at Tulsa Opera, The Mystery of Irma Vep at The Old Globe, Daddy Long Legs at Laguna Playhouse, Tosca and La Fille du Régiment at Opera Ontario, Of Mice and Men at Theatre Calgary/CanStage/Neptune Theatre, The Dresser at Manitoba Theatre Centre, Skylight at Tarragon Theatre, To Kill a Mockingbird at Citadel Theatre/Manitoba Theatre Centre/Theatre Calgary and The Designated Mourner at Tarragon Theatre and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Davies also has worked as head theatre representative at the Toronto International Film Festival, Dubai International Film Festival, AFI Fest (part of the American Film Institute), Los Angeles Film Festival and as team leader at Sundance.

Manhattan Theatre Club Under the dynamic leadership of Artistic Director Lynne Meadow and Executive Producer Barry Grove, MTC has become one of the country’s most prominent theatre companies. Productions at its Broadway and Off-Broadway venues have earned numerous awards including 19 Tony® Awards and six Pulitzer Prizes to date. MTC’s world, Broadway and New York premieres have included Constellations, Heisenberg, Airline Highway, Casa Valentina, Outside Mullingar, The Assembled Parties, The Lion, Choir Boy, Murder Ballad, Venus in Fur, Good People, The Madrid, The Whipping Man, Ruined, Blackbird, The Explorers Club, The Columnist, Rabbit Hole, Doubt, The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife, Proof, Love! Valour! Compassion! and Ain’t Misbehavin’. For information on their 2015-16 Season, visit www.ManhattanTheatreClub.com.

Vietgone Opens to Praise
Laughter. Silence. Tears. Laughter. Audiences at the opening of Vietgone experienced just about every emotion during this world premiere. And then celebrated at the Cast Party. Check out the play’s first night.read more

Playwright Qui Nguyen talks Vietgone
Growing up in Eldorado, Ark., watching kung fu films and listening to hip-hop music all helped shape Nguyen’s voice as a playwright. Listen as he talks about his life and influences in this podcastlisten now